Ethan sat at the head of the obsidian table, the cold water in his glass reflecting the blue light of the holographic displays. Jason and Old Falcon stood before him, their shadows long against the wall.
"Would you two like something to drink?" asked Ethan.
Before he could even finish the sentence, both men dropped to their knees, their heads bowed low in a display of absolute contrition.
"Master, please forgive us! We ruined the covert infiltration. We were detected by a hidden underground missile launcher before we could secure the perimeter!" said Jason, his voice thick with shame.
"We failed to remain undetected, sir. Because the exploration was compromised, we couldn't see what was further ahead or find the exact location where they were embarking. We've lost the trail," said Old Falcon.
